Supermassive black hole winds carry 100 times more energy than thought
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Winds from supermassive black holes carry about 100 times more energy than previously estimated, reaching 300,000 light-years beyond their host galaxies. XRISM observations of quasar H1821+643 revealed turbulent gas flows extending far into the galaxy cluster. The energy is comparable to several billion supernova explosions.
Key Facts
- The energy in black hole-driven winds is about 100 times greater than earlier estimates.
- The winds extend roughly 300,000 light-years beyond the host galaxy.
- The quasar H1821+643 lies 3.4 billion light-years from Earth in the constellation Draco.
- The energy is comparable to several billion supernova explosions.
- Satoshi Yamada of Tohoku University led the study using the XRISM satellite.
XRISM Observations
Researchers used the X-ray astronomy satellite XRISM to observe quasar H1821+643. The quasar sits in the constellation Draco, about 3.4 billion light-years from Earth. The team analyzed emission lines from iron ions to measure gas motion around the black hole. XRISM's high-precision measurements showed the hot gas is turbulent and spreads violently across a broad region.
Energy Scale
The gas flow extends about 300,000 light-years beyond the host galaxy. The energy in the turbulence is approximately 100 times greater than previous estimates. That energy is comparable to the output of several billion supernova explosions. Satoshi Yamada said black holes influence the broader cosmic environment through a shock wave of astonishing power.
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